Foot accelerator



NOV. 22, 1938, B TFIQIPP 2,137,596

FOOT ACCELERATOR Filed June 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A iiomeys Nov. 22, 1938. E B TRPP 21,137,596

FOOT ACCELERATOR Filed June 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 3 Claims.

This invention has reference to a foot accelerator designed to be used in the place and stead of the ordinary foot-accelerator as supplied in practically all motor vehicles now on the market.

As is well known, at the present time, the ordinary foot accelerator is such that a downward pressure of the foot thereon operates the throttle valve in a manner to increase the flow of fuel to the internal combustion engine for increasing the speed of the car. Under such circumstances, and the natural tendency, in the event of accident or some untoward circumstance in which the operator of the vehicle may find himself, to press harder on the accelerator pedal, increases the speed of the engine where mature judgment would call for either a removal of the foot entirely from the accelerator pedal or the lightening of the pressure of the foot on the pedal to lessen the feed of fuel to the engine.

With such in mind, the present invention has reference to a foot accelerator which operates reversely to the operation of the present day ordinary foot accelerator so that with any tendency of the operator as would, with the ordinary foot accelerator cause the latter to be depressed, the foot of the operator will be moved away from my improved foot accelerator so that by way of this more or less unconscious action on the part of the operator, the throttle valve will be operated for reducing the supply of fuel to the internal combustion engine.

The invention, together with its objects and advantages, will be best understood from a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a detail elevational view showing the improved foot accelerator.

Figure 2 is a View at right angles to Figure 1 and with certain parts shown in section.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the accelerator.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 3 with certain parts omitted.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, it will be seen that 5 indicates the dash'or foot board of an automobile. In accordance with the present invention, the board 5 is provided with an elongated slot 6 in which is mounted a frame 1. Frame 7 at the upper edges of the walls thereof is provided with an outstanding, apertured flange 8 through the medium of which screws or other fastening devices 8, secure the frame 1 within the aforementioned slot 6.

A plate 9 of suitable edge contour extends through the frame 1 and is pivoted adjacent one end of the frame through the medium of a rivet or 5 the like ID.

A toe plate His riveted or otherwise secured intermediate its ends as at E2 to one edge of the plate 9 and at the lower edge thereof the toe plate I l is provided with a stop flange l3 while 10 at the upper edge thereof plate II is provided with an extension or flange l4 adapted to be engaged by the toe of the operator for swinging the plate 9 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1 or to any intermediate position, against the action of spring [5 for operating the throttle valve to control the supply of fuel to the internal combustion engine.

Spring I5 is suitably anchored at one end as at [6 to the underside of the foot board 5 and at a relatively opposite end is connected as at IT to the plate 9 for normally urging the plate into the full line position shown in Figure l, or in a clockwise direction.

The throttle rod is indicated by the reference numeral l8 and in accordance with the present invention there is provided a throttle arm l9 which is pivoted as at 20 to the extension 2| of one side of frame 1. At its upper end the throttle arm I 9 is pivotally connected with the throttle rod l8 while at the lower end thereof arm I9 is provided with a slot 2| that accommodates a headed stud 22 on the lower end of the plate 9 whereby a lost motion connection is provided between the plate 9 and the lever [9 for swinging the lever about its pivot 20 incidental to a swinging movement of the plate 9.

Thus it will be seen that when the plate 9 in response to pressure applied by the foot to the extension M of toe plate H swings to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, the movement of the plate 9 will be transmitted to the throttle arm H! for moving the latter, together with the rod l8 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1 for opening the throttle valve to increase the flow of fuel to the internal combustion engine.

It will therefore be seen that with this foot accelerator, should the operator, as is sometimes the tendency, in case of accident or the like, press forwardly and downwardly as is the natural tendency of the operator of a vehicle under such circumstances, the toe of the foot will move downwardly out of engagement with the foot plate extension I4 with the result that spring [5 will act to swing the plate 9 toward the full line position shown in Figure 1 to thereby close the throttle valve and cut off the supply of fuel to the internal combustion engine. This is of course, just the reverse of what would be the result Where the ordinary foot accelerator is used-since with such ordinary foot accelerator, this tendency of the operator to press forwardly with the foot would result in a depressing of the ordinary foot accelerator and consequently an opening of the throttle valve to increase the flow of fuel to the internal combustion engine.

Thus it will be seen that my foot accelerator will be desirable from a safety standpoint since with my accelerator the reaction usually following an accident or the relaxing of the throttle as the result of one falling to sleep when driving the automobile, will be such that the foot will drop away from the foot accelerator instead of continuing the pressure thereon as is the result where the ordinary accelerator is used.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An automobile foot accelerator comprising a supporting member, a toe plate pivoted to said supporting member for vertical swinging move ment and embodying a foot overlying portion adapted to be raised upwardly by the foot of the operator, a spring device connected with said toe plate for normally urging the latter to rotate in one direction, and means operatively connecting said toe plate with one end of an accelerator rod.

2. An automobile foot accelerator comprising a supporting member, an upright plate pivoted to said supporting member for vertical swinging movement, a spring device connected with said plate for normally urging the latter to rotate in one direction, means operatively connecting said plate with one end of an accelerator rod, and a toe plate secured to one edge of said plate and having a flange projecting from one edge thereof adapted to overlie the foot of the operator for upward swinging movement by said foot.

3. An automobile foot accelerator comprising a fixed support, an upright plate pivoted intermediate its ends to the support, means for attaching an accelerator rod to the lower end of the plate, and a member projecting from the upper portion of the plate adapted to overlie the foot of the operator for manipulating said rod by an upward movement of said member.

EDWIN B. TRIPP. 

